As I stood on the platform outside the depot at the Chehalis-Centralia Steam Train and Museum, I started to feel a little buzz inside me, a feeling I recognized as excitement. “Odd,” I thought. “I’m not riding the train, I’m here to talk to the volunteers.” I didn’t think much more about it, and set about talking to a handful of the volunteers.
Harold Borovec is basically the grand historian of the train. Growing up in the area, he started working for the railroad when he was 16. Initially he worked two hours a day after school, then progressed to full-time employment. He quit 15 years later in 1958, but was still heavily interested and involved in trains. He was approached as part of the plan to revitalize the steam train and draw more visitors to the area. Involved from day one, he has many details to tell of the journey to getting the train moved, refurbished and ready to go. At age 90, Borovec doesn’t do much work on the train anymore, but still hangs out at the depot, ready to regale a willing audience with his stories if you have some time to spare before or after your ride.
Alden Wolf is a teenager who is living proof parents aren’t always wrong, and sometimes they even expose you to something you end up loving. About four years ago, his mother volunteered the family to simply serve cocoa on the Polar Express rides – and he was hooked. He is now a student fireman and student engineer. “He does everything we ask him to,” boasts Borovec proudly. “He could even run the train if he had to.” But he has to wait until he’s 18 before he can get his license. And he will certainly do that the minute he can.
Geri Mays has been working for six years as a part-time paid staff and as part-time volunteer, who started working after a referral from a friend at WorkSource. She runs the ticket office, handles reservations, answers phone calls, and processes sales of everything from souvenirs to chips and refreshments. She cleans and stocks the restrooms, and keeps trash picked up around the area as well. “There is nothing I don’t like about working here,” she smiles. “Even cleaning the bathrooms. But my favorite part is talking to the people.”
Andrew Rose is an Engineer. “Ever since I was little I was drawn to trains. I got my engineer license at 21, six months before I got my driver’s license,” he laughs.
Stephanie Taylor, 15, was in her second day of volunteering on this day. “My boyfriend volunteers here so I thought I’d check it out,” she smiles shyly. Her job is to run the concession stand on board the train. “I love it, and just being able to get out is nice,” she explains. She also invited other teens to check it out. “You won’t know until you try it and you may find out that you really like it.”
Dennis Holgren is a brakeman and sometimes the conductor. He became a volunteer about five years ago after his daughter had been volunteering at the train, and now he and 24-year-old son, Adam, drive down from Sumner to share their enthusiasm.
Wanda and Bill Thompson basically got into volunteering with the Steam Train because of their location. They own a hydraulic business and in 1993, workers would come over to their shop and borrow tools. Of course that peaked their curiosity and now 24 years later, they are very involved volunteers.
Wanda says she “does a little bit of everything except the train.” She is the secretary/treasurer, she’s in charge of the depot, helps with special events and the dinner train, and helps wherever she is needed. “I’m basically the organization person,” she laughs. But her favorite part is working on the dinner train. “It’s a chance to talk to people,” she smiles.
All ages are welcome. “We are always looking for more help, all year long,” says Wanda. But they are in need of the most volunteers during the popular Polar Express rides before Christmas. There are no requirements for volunteers, but Wanda says that if someone wants to help maintain the track and equipment they’ll want to be in good physical shape. “They’ll be doing tasks like helping change out railroad ties, put a spike in, replace or tighten bolts, or cut brush along the tracks.” Volunteers do a variety of tasks and can help out every week, just once a month, or just every so often. “They help when they can,” assures Wanda.
After talking to the volunteers and watching kids and adults both trying to patiently wait to get on the train, I realized the buzz I felt wasn’t mine alone – the excitement from the volunteers and their love of what they do is simply contagious.
Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum
1101 Southwest Sylvenus Street
Chehalis WA 98532
360-748-9593
info@steamtrainride.com
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